Poll Reveals Increases in Child Communication Disorders and Need for Early Intervention Services

A national poll of audiologists and speech-language pathologists recently revealed an increase in child medical referrals for parental concerns about hearing, speech, and language delays or disorders.

Conducted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the survey investigated early detection, early warning signs, and caregiver knowledge and awareness of communication disorders, and demonstrated a need for early intervention education and services.

About the Survey

ASHA conducted this survey in February and March of 2023, sending an email invitation to 5,460 ASHA-certified audiologists and 5,534 ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists in the U.S. who are employed as clinical service providers and regularly serve at least one of the following age groups:

• six months or younger,

• seven months to two years of age, and

• three to five years of age

The invitation included a link to the survey, which 858 recipients completed. Demographically:

• 43% of respondents work in schools.

• 29% work in nonresidential health care facilities.

• 21% work in hospitals.

• 79% regularly serve age groups three to five years.

• 54% regularly serve age groups seven months to two years.

• 32% regularly serve age groups six months or less.

Key Findings

Pandemic-Related Trends

• Backlogs of children who weren’t referred to audiologists and speech-language pathologists during stay-at-home periods, or whose families waited to seek help due to concerns about coronavirus exposure, were a major factor in the increase of referrals. Three-quarters (75%) of audiologists and 62% of speech-language pathologists reported such backlogs.

• Post-pandemic:

  • 34% of audiologists reported seeing more children with a delayed diagnosis of hearing loss;

  • 36% of audiologists reported seeing more children with untreated ear infections that could interfere with communication development;

  • 84% of speech-language pathologists reported seeing more children with emotional or behavioral difficulties;

  • 79% of speech-language pathologists reported seeing more children with delayed language or diagnosed language disorders, and

  • 78% reported seeing more children with social communication difficulties than before the pandemic.

• When it comes to factors contributing to increases in referrals beyond backlogs, audiologists and speech-language pathologists point to:

  • limited opportunities for social interaction and play with peers (59%);

  • limited formal pre-K and daycare or interaction with outside adults (57%) such as child care providers, preschool teachers, and extended family; and

  • young children (51%) spending more time using screens and technology such as tablets and smartphones compared with pre-pandemic years.

CAREGIVER AWARENESS AND NEED FOR EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES

Positive Trends

• 67% of audiologists and speech-language pathologists said parental awareness of the early warning signs of communication disorders has improved during the past decade.

• A majority (71%) said that most families with young children are at least “somewhat” aware of the importance of early detection of speech, language, and hearing difficulties when families first see them.

Negative Trends

• Lack of awareness of the early signs of disorders remains the leading factor hindering parents and caregivers from taking action on communication disorders in young children.

• Less than one quarter (21%) of audiologists said that most parents know the early warning signs of hearing disorders.

• Only 28% of speech-language pathologists said that most parents know the early warning signs of speech-language disorders.

• About 40% of audiologists indicated that, on average, symptoms of hearing loss in young children go unrecognized by parents/caregivers for 6 months to 1 year.

• Similarly, about 41% of speech-language pathologists indicated that, on average, symptoms of a speech-language delay or disorder in young children go unrecognized by parents/caregivers for 1–2 years.

• Nearly half (48%) of audiologists indicated that, on average, parents/caregivers wait 6 months to 1 year after observing symptoms of hearing loss in their children before acting.

• Accordingly, 48% of speech-language pathologists indicated that, on average, parents/caregivers wait 6 months to 1 year after observing symptoms of a speech-language delay or disorder to get help.

ASHA Recommendations for Families

• Learn the signs of communication disorders.

• Connect with early intervention or a private clinician if you have concerns.

  • Find contacts by state at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/states.html.

  • Access a searchable database of private providers at www.asha.org/profind.

• Additionally, focus on daily interactions with your child.

Learn More

Visit www.IdentifytheSigns.org to learn more about communication disorders. To find additional information, visit the ASHA website.